Jori Lehtera (Update: Re-signed with Sibir for 2 years)
Currently tearing it up in the KHL with Pavol Demitra. So far he has 6 goals and 6 assists for 12 points in only 14 games. Seems to be a very promising young player. Too bad he signed a two-year contract. Any chance that he gets out of the contract one year early? It'd be nice to see him and Tarasenko both make the jump next season, but with guys like Sobotka and D'Agostini around I'm not sure that we'll have the room for both players. Thoughts?
I wonder if he is playing center over there. Can you imagine a line of Perron--Lehtera--Tarasenko?
Going by the stats, it looks like he's currently centering Lokomotiv's 3rd line. He's taken 148 face-offs, and has won 86. That is a 58% win percentage. He also host a 30% shot percentage, is a +5 plus/minus, has 2 power play goals, and 1 short-handed, and 6 goals total including a game winner, all while averaging only 15:33 minutes per game. And yes that line looks frightening!
The kicker is getting him over. He signed a two-year deal.
Tarasenko is coming, but will Lehtera leave for a checking center role? Not sure he can fill that in the NHL. Is he a winger? Maybe. I can't see him getting out of the deal to play for Peoria.
The Blues got him on an ELC...so my guess is at some point the option is there but not likely till 12-13. At that point who knows how he'll be playing. I would guess that his eventual arrival on this side would be similar to how Nikitin came over?
Will be interesting IMO to see how the KHL prospects (Nikitin, Lehtera, Andronov, and Tarasenko) turn out opposed to College/OHL > AHL track prospects.
The kicker is getting him over. He signed a two-year deal.
Tarasenko is coming, but will Lehtera leave for a checking center role? Not sure he can fill that in the NHL. Is he a winger? Maybe. I can't see him getting out of the deal to play for Peoria.
The Blues got him on an ELC...so my guess is at some point the option is there but not likely till 12-13. At that point who knows how he'll be playing. I would guess that his eventual arrival on this side would be similar to how Nikitin came over?
Will be interesting IMO to see how the KHL prospects (Nikitin, Lehtera, Andronov, and Tarasenko) turn out opposed to College/OHL > AHL track prospects.
That won't be his role. I see Berglund taking the #1 center role fairly soon with Lehterä and Schwartz going for the #2 center slot. Lehterä seems a little ahead of Schwartz in terms of overall development, which makes sense because he is about 4 1/2 years older than Schwartz.
If Lehterä has any interest whatsoever in coming over to play in STL, then he is going to have to come over next summer and train with Blues players and prospects and attend camps and tournaments. If he does not do these things, then I would say he is not interested in eventually playing for The Blues.
On the other hand, he may have already expressed interest that we fans may not know about. Maybe management will wait until it is time to re-sign him or not, which would be the spring of 2012.
But, again, he slots where he slots and if there is a spot and interest on his part, then it might be a good match in a couple years.
Last edited by ChicagoBlues: 10-21-2010 at 06:49 PM.
Reason: spelling & grammar
That won't be his role. I see Berglund taking the #1 center role fairly soon with Lehterä and Schwartz going for the #2 center slot. Lehterä seems a little ahead of Schwartz in terms of overall development, which makes sense because he is about 4 1/2 years older than Schwartz.
If Lehterä has any interest whatsoever in coming over to play in STL, then he is going to have to come over next summer and train with Blues players and prospects and attend camps and tournaments. If he does not do these things, then I would say he is not interested in eventually playing for The Blues.
On the other hand, he may have already expressed interest that we fans may not know about. Maybe management will wait until it is time to re-sign him or not, which would be the spring of 2012.
But, again, he slots where he slots and if there is a spot and interest on his part, then it might be a good match in a couple years.
I don't think he will either. He could be the 3rd center depth-wise which seems to usually be the checking role. Thats more what I was getting at, just not described so well.
Berglund long term and then McDonald, Oshie and Backes all filter in as potential centers as well. Not sure I think he can earn time over three of those four.
I don't think he will either. He could be the 3rd center depth-wise which seems to usually be the checking role. Thats more what I was getting at, just not described so well.
Berglund long term and then McDonald, Oshie and Backes all filter in as potential centers as well. Not sure I think he can earn time over three of those four.
My whacky plan is that as McDonald exits Lehtera enters.
Oshie and Backes stay wingers.
Berglund #1 center and Lehtera #2.
Can I just say how pumped I am for the future of this team? It's been fun/tough/stressful/exciting watching this team grow over the past couple of years and I'm sure nothing will change this season but MAN am I ready for a cup!
One of McRae or Lehtera is probably going to end up being converted to a left wing.
Alternatively, McRae could more effectively fill a checking-line role than Lehtera, and his presence on the third line would make that line much more of a scoring threat than the average third line.
I like the idea of Berglund and Lehtera as the #1 and #2 centers. A lineup of...
Another goal for Jori Lehtera in today's loss against Tarasenko and HC Sibir. Tarasenko notched a goal as well to finally get back on the score sheet after a long drought.
i dont mean burst your bubble but the blues know all about him. they gave a trial in the minors a few years ago.if they thought that he had any future at all they he would be signed to a contract. there are actually prospects that are not in either peoria or st.louis that are under contract. so like i said sorry but no dice
i dont mean burst your bubble but the blues know all about him. they gave a trial in the minors a few years ago.if they thought that he had any future at all they he would be signed to a contract. there are actually prospects that are not in either peoria or st.louis that are under contract. so like i said sorry but no dice
And yes that line looks frightening!
